Math is Math with Sarah Vowell & Huck Milner of Incredibles 2 – Their Take on Voice Acting, Super Heroes, and Equality

Thanks to Disney for sending me to Los Angeles to cover this Incredible event!

Brad Bird plays all of the roles in Incredibles 2.

For voice acting purposes anyway.

ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 14: Director Brad Bird of INCREDIBLES 2 took part today in the Walt Disney Studios animation presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO 2017 in Anaheim, Calif. INCREDIBLES 2 will be released in U.S. theaters on June 15, 2018. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Brad Bird

Sarah Vowell: Brad Bird is very entertaining. He is the voice of Edna Mode, he is an exceptional voice actor himself. He does all the other parts. Usually the first take, you don’t use. He does such great impressions that if he’s doing Elastigirl’s part, I always laugh first because his impressions are so dead on.

Image: Louise/MomStart

Sarah is very much like Violet Parr, which is why her adult voice works for the teen character.

Sarah: It’s always really fun to do the things that come naturally, and for me that’s Violet’s sarcasm, she’s kind of a wise guy, and that’s what I’m like. Brad was very helpful, delicate, and respectful with me during a scene in which Violet has to cry. I was brought up not to cry in front of people, especially sound engineers! But because I trust him, he really does believe in me, I like being in that room with him.

If Huck Milner could have any super power, it would be speed.

He mentioned his favorite superheroes were Dash and Flash, both super fast dudes. Huck is admittedly a slow poke, so he would love to be different from his actual self by being fast.

Huck: I’m really slow in real life. I cannot beat my cousins or sisters at any game involving running. I want to be able to go somewhere and come back and say ‘I was here the whole time!’

Sarah Vowell’s super power would be Super Strength

Sarah: As a middle aged lady, I would love super strength because. . . I don’t know if any of you have those rubber jar opener things, but wouldn’t it be great to just open a jar of jam with your own strength? If I could just open a jam jar or move a car with my hand, I would love it.

Image: Louise/MomStart

Huck got a little salty when Sarah asked him a series of questions about owning a Dash toy with his name in it. It was a super sweet moment between these two “siblings” who have an enormous actual age gap.

Huck had a secret trick to laughing during voice recording

Huck: I couldn’t laugh so I had to have someone tickle me!

Sarah got beat up during recording!

Sarah: I think real, professional actors don’t have to run around during recording to sound worn out. For me, the hardest part, especially coming from public radio where you just say words, you have to make all these sounds. The first time I had to make a sound where Violet was being punched by her brother, I said, ‘You’re going to have to come over here and punch me!’ Someone would come stand by the microphone and me and hit me while I was delivering my lines.

During a scene where Violet does a spit take, I had to literally throw water down my throat. I got the take but then I vomited all over the studio.

Image: Louise/MomStart

A Violet Parr Standalone Film? What would that look like?

Sarah: I do fantasize about a Violet film. I think, ‘Is she going to be a foreign exchange student? And will she live with a superhero family? In what country? What if she’s living in a superhero family in a country where women aren’t allowed to drive, how would that work?’ Violet is so part of her family, what happens when she leaves the family? That’s actually the story of every kid growing up.

For Violet, it would be interesting to see what happens to her when she goes out into the world.

Huck Milner weighs in on political themes in Incredibles 2

Sarah: By the end when they’re all working together, I would say culturally and as a society, the goal is for everyone getting to become everyone they are supposed to be and they all get to be who they are equally. They all work together and each of their individual powers being used collectively for the greater good. To me, that is an exciting, functional society where everyone gets to do that.

Image: Louise/MomStart

Huck: It’s like what Winston Dever said when he said, ‘We finally did one thing that’s really rare: Agree on something.’ which kind of goes with that because it’s everyone coming together to help the city.

The two were a fun pair to talk to. Huck being ten and Sarah being in her 40s don’t make likely siblings, but they certainly act like it.

Image: Louise/MomStart

If you haven’t already, go see Incredibles 2, a film that smashed all kinds of box office records on its opening weekend. You owe it to yourself. And your kids. If you have them.

About Summer

*You can reach Summer at summer@dirtyfloordiaries.com.* Born in Orlando, FL and raised in Juneau, Alaska; Summer prefers being outdoors hiking, skiing, or just livin' over being inside doing anything. She has a weakness for cheap red wine and good conversation and can always be counted on for a laugh. You won't find perfection here, just a big ole' mess and a few laughs. Feeling frustrated with your life? Visit The Dirty Floor Diaries and you'll leave feeling just a smidge better - Guaranteed or your visit's free.